Wisco Dreaming

Pictures, from top: Wisconsin State Line, "Happy Farm!", Wisco countryside, Dick and Diane, boarding a ferry (there was no bridge)

Michael's Diary:

After I left the Twin Cities I headed to Wisconsin. As before I noticed a pretty immediate change when I crossed the state line. The scenery changed from endless rolling hills covered with corn and soy to endless hills covered with soy, corn and dairies. There were also more trees in Wisconsin and more hills. The people seemed different as well as they were much more talkative. The folks in Minnesota seemed to keep to them selves more than in any other state so far. I meet a very nice couple Dick and Diane at my campsite. They gave me coffee and fruit and then showed me the inside of their fifth wheel. I had no idea those things were so nice. After chatting for a few hours and several cups of coffee I vibrated down the road.

My next stop was at Kristin's Aunt and Uncle's house, Mary and Guy's. We had a nice visit complete with a great fish dinner and hanging out at Devil's lake where we listened to live Old Time music outside of a cool old lodge house. We watched the sun set, as the bats came out in force not surprisingly at the very moment that the mosquitoes came out. If I were to pick an insect significant to the trip this would have to be the one. I have found that every state has a strong population of these little bugs. I can rest easy in knowing that I personally have contributed to the base of the food chain all across America not that it was hurting anywhere so far.

After Guy and Mary's I headed for Lake Michigan and then south to Chicago. The roads in southeastern Wisconsin were great. Shoulders everywhere for the most part. When I say shoulders that usually means a foot of extra space to about six inches. The forests were beautiful and there were intermittent rain showers, which kept the sun away and the temperature down. Actually as long as I kept moving the temperature was fine. As soon as I stopped it was like being in a sauna. So much sweat that if I stopped too long I wouldn't be able to see for all the stinging in my eyes so I tried not to stop much and did a lot of eating while riding the bike. This takes some practice in opening packages as well as breathing so you don't choke but I got it.